Chapter 101:
Orochimaru couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction.
He had been right. The little girl standing before him Yakushi Nono was none other than the future director of the orphanage who would go on to raise Kabuto Yakushi, one of Orochimaru's most brilliant and loyal subordinates. Known as the "Wandering Miko," Nonouwould eventually become an expert spy and a highly skilled medical ninja. Seeing her at this age gave Orochimaru an idea.
Perhaps, instead of waiting for Kabuto to come into the picture, why not start earlier and groom Nono as his assistant?
Orochimaru nodded to himself thoughtfully.
He had considered countless individuals to become his assistant. Among them, Tsunade had always been the most fitting candidate. She had the strongest medical expertise, a deep knowledge of poisons and antidotes, and the ability to heal even the most fatal injuries. She was, in many ways, the perfect assistant.
But she had one fatal flaw: her loyalty to Konoha and her bloodline as a member of the Senju clan. Tsunade would never betray Konoha, not even for him. If Orochimaru ever became an enemy of the village or was forced to conduct more extreme experiments, she would undoubtedly be the first to stand against him.
And that was something Orochimaru couldn't afford.
Nono, on the other hand, was still young, impressionable, and full of potential. She was already in Root, being trained in the art of espionage, and showed early signs of medical proficiency. If he could mold her from this young age, she might become the perfect assistant, loyal only to him.
"Maybe it's time to give this a try…" Orochimaru thought to himself as he observed the girl.